BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of April 24, 2007

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss meeting reports, overtime, and the advertising policy for boards and commissions from 9:00 a.m. until 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Commissioner Pearce gave an update on the status of the Emergency Supplemental Secure Rural Schools and County Payments amendment.

 

Jeff Carlson advised of concerns regarding possible future dredging of material from Rock Cove due to the Piper Road/Rock Creek landslide.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes for week of April 17, 2007.

2.       Reappoint Robert Cunningham to Boundary Review Board position #1 for a 4-year term expiring January 31, 2011.

3.       Reappoint Patricia Colton to Boundary Review Board position #5 for a 4-year term expiring January 31, 2011.

4.       Contract with USDA Forest Service to provide funding for law enforcement on Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

5.       Letter from Dept of General Administration terminating the rental agreement with Employment Security Dept for the lease of land at 704A SW Rock Creek Drive.

6.       Boundary line adjustment to correct a survey discrepancy for property located on Delina Lane.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to ratify the Chair’s signing of a letter to Representative Norm Dicks regarding the Emergency Supplemental Secure Rural Schools and County Payments amendment.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve a contract amendment with Washington State Military Department (E07-096A) amending the terms and conditions for funding to provide Emergency Management Preparedness Assistance to local jurisdictions.

 

Larry Douglass, Interim Public Works Director reported on personnel, Rock Creek Slide, engineering projects, County Road, Solid Waste, ER&R, Solid Waste, and Building Department.

 

John Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator reported on monitoring of Mount St. Helens, Piper Road/Rock Creek landslide, Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, Community Emergency Response Team program, National Incident Management System compliance, school preparedness, Emergency Operations Center progress, pandemic flu, search and rescue, and updates to the Emergency Management website.

 

Dolores Morgan, Interim Counseling Center Director reported on legislative funding, grant administration, and treatment and prevention service needs.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve the re-submittal of an expense claim voucher for Roger Lembrick.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:05 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2007 and reconvened at 11:20 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Nancy Ryke, Mt. Adams District Ranger and Tom Mulder, Mount St. Helens Monument District Ranger gave updates on Forest Service activities.  Discussion included closing of Coldwater Ridge Visitor’s Center, recreation sites/campgrounds, Swift Subarea Plan, Forest Service 90 Road, timber sales, long range northwest forest plan, Firewise Plan, road damage/decommissioning, and Hemlock Dam.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2007 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider four applications for a change of classification or use from Richard and Sherrill Bologh to transfer portions of tax parcels 02-05-00-00-8002-00 and 02-05-00-00-8003-00 from Agriculture and Designated Forest Land to Current Use Timber Land.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Richard and Sherrill Bologh advising they were unable to attend the hearing.  No one was present from the Assessor’s Office.  Mary Repar requested clarification of current use and timber land.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Open Space Taxation Agreements for four applications to transfer portions of tax parcels 02-05-00-00-8002-00 and 02-05-00-00-8003-00 from Agriculture and Designated Forest Land to Current Use Timber Land.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2007 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2007-06 amending Skamania County Code Title 10 Traffic, Chapter 10.04.030 Speed Limits by revising speed limits on Cook-Underwood Road.  Craig Rundell, Public Works Engineering Technician gave a staff report.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to continue the hearing to 2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 24, 2007 to allow for additional public comment.  The Board directed Public Works to post temporary signage at both ends of Cook-Underwood Road regarding the proposed speed limit changes and to post the same information on the County’s website.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2007 and reconvened at 3:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a conference call with Jim Potts, Legislative Representative for Skamania County to discuss the next legislative session, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2007 and reconvened at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss staff retirements, Rock Creek drainage, Adopt-A-Road-Program, and project reviews, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss Columbia Gorge Future Forum, Rock Cove milfoil, Hearing Examiner services, House Bill 1409, Water Resource Inventory Area 29 split funding, planning process, and rock pits, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Recreation and Facilities Director to discuss the Park and Recreation Master Plan, grant for Firearms and Archery Range Recreation Program, architect contract, and personnel, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:08 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2007 and reconvened at 1:40 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Noxious Weed Control to discuss increasing employee time for Title II projects for the Noxious Weed Coordinator, Partnership Specialist (Title II) and Partnership Specialist (Knotweed), with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve increasing the percentage of employee time for Title II projects for the Noxious Weed Coordinator from 5% to 15%, Partnership Specialist (Title II) from 80% to 90%, and Partnership Specialist (Knotweed) to 15%, to be paid from additional Title II grant funding received.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Sheriff and Solid Waste Supervisor to discuss work crew dump fees, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Sheriff to discuss proposed changes to the Animal Control Ordinance, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2007 and reconvened at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, April 26, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss scheduling and personnel, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 10:15 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending April 26, 2007 in the total amount of $238,894.64.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve a contract amendment with Laxson Appraisal Services to extend the term of the contract to provide appraisal services for County-owned property.

 

Ann Lueders, Safety Committee Chair reported on the Safety Committee meeting of April 10, 2007.  The Board reviewed and discussed the following reports:

§         Report #2007-04.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2007-06.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to return the report to the Safety Committee for additional information.

§         Report #2007-05.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2007-E-04.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2006-28.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to return the report to the Safety Committee for further review.

The meeting recessed at 11:37 a.m., Thursday, April 26, 2007 and reconvened at 12:45 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

 

Auditor Mike Garvison discussed the purchase of bottled water.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to allow the purchase of bottled water and coffee for county departments that offer it to the public, with a review in 90-days.  The Auditor advised he would send a memo to County departments.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss an upcoming State Transportation Committee meeting, the Counseling Center and Risk Management, with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m. Thursday, April 26, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON